Events Presented by Arts Consortium

Speical Projects

Connect with Us

First Friday Downtown Visalia

#ILoveArtBro

March already??? WOW! We have eight venues in which you can check out great art in Visalia! Come out from 5-8 and find out what is going on in the community!

Arts Consortium

- “ILOVEARTBRO” at the AC
300 E. Oak Ave.
#ILoveArtBro is a weekly grassroots event that has grown into one of the most popular art movements in Tulare County. The brainchild of Ryan Mayo, #ILoveArtBro started in Ryan’s backyard and quickly outgrew the space. The Cellar Door offered to open their doors bringing local artists, musicians and chefs to show off their talents. Every Wednesday night artists set up tables showcasing their art for sale while music is blasting and chefs are cooking up tasty eats for sale. This over 21 event starts letting guests in at 7pm and runs till midnight. Artists show their work for free and the cover charge for guest is only $2. Community outreach is part of the package as well. Mayo and his crew pick a cause and recruit volunteers or ask for donations to help the less fortunate in the Valley. For March #ILOVEARTBRO is collecting new books to donate to Valley Children’s Hospital and gently used books to the Tulare County Libraries.
The Arts Consortium is bringing #ILOVEARTBRO on board as a special program and would like to introduce the community to the experience and good that they do for the community. Our First Friday event is family friendly and all ages are invited to come and check out the talented artists and bring a book to donate!
Show runs 2/29-3/30.

Arts Visalia

– Randell Ranger – “Silver Light” Fifty Photographs”
214 E. Oak Ave.
Arts Visalia is pleased to exhibit Randall Ranger. Randy is a black and white film photographer. In this exhibition, entitled Silver Light: Fifty Photographs, Randy focuses on photography as the search for exciting light revealing form, texture, and shape. Randy states, “When I’m photographing, the last thing I need is a camera. I wander about with my eyes and mind, free of preconceived ideas. My best photographs summon me, demanding their creation.” Randy’s interest in photography began in high school with a couple of basic photography classes. He became more involved in photography in the 1980’s. After finding 35mm and medium format lacking, in 1993, Randy began to use a large format view camera which proved to be the best tool for his work. “View cameras require quiet deliberation which, for me, results in superior photographs. His films and fine prints are taken and developed traditionally in his own darkroom, which today, is a hard commodity to find in the field of photography.
The exhibition runs from February 28th to March 30th. The opening reception will be held on First Friday, March 2nd, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., sponsored in part by Bueno Beverage, The Vartanian Family Restaurants and Valley PBS’s Articulate.

Brandon-Mitchell

Gallery - Betty Berk - “The Poetry of Color”
217 S. Locust
Betty Berk will present her art, poems and music that inspired the art at the Brandon-Mitchell Gallery, located in the Center for Spiritual Living. Betty will read some of her poems that correspond to her paintings. In addition pianist Haunnah McKintosh Carter will play classical music from 6-7 p.m. The exhibit runs February 31-April 27.

The Creative Center

- Sofa Art - EXTREME SIZE!
410 E. Race Ave.
You are invited to Visalia's 23rd Annual Sofa Art Show Opening on First Friday, March 2 from 5pm-8pm! Artists from Tulare County, Fresno County and beyond will be showcased in this tongue-in-cheek exhibition that makes fun of the idea that art has to match your sofa. This year's theme is "Sofas of Extreme Size”, featuring both the small and the great. Visit the Jon Ginsburg Gallery Facebook page for more details.

Lancaster Creations/Organic Apothecary & Communitique - Tea Party!

105 S. Church
Lancaster Creations will be having a TEA PARTY to celebrate their herbalist formulated line of cottage food permitted Tisan’s (herbal tea). The teas are created from all organic herbs for vitality & wellness. The tea's featured are available for purchase at the Organic Apothecary & Communitique at 105 S. Church during First Friday and the Visalia Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings.

Pita Kabob

- Mikayla Gutierrez
227 N. Court St.
Mikayla Gutierrez is a young, local painter from Visalia, California, currently studying the arts at College of the Sequoias. She creates art as a means of healthy self-expression, her favorite medium being oil painting. Mikayla is inspired by her life experiences, from love to heartache, to produce work that is vivid and surreal, creating a therapeutic middle ground between reality and her imagination. Her selected artworks will be on display at the Gastropub Beer Garden on Friday, March 2nd.

The Source

210 Cafe

- Valley Digital Artists
210 W. Center
Visalia Digital Artist is a group of friends with a common interest in photography. The group started as a couple of people having coffee with the late Terry McCraw from TMC Photography as our teacher. The group now has grown to around thirteen photographers with all areas of interests. Their works include infant portraits, landscapes, family and children, macro, nature, wildlife, cityscapes, night shooting, and travel.
The group members are Angela Eller, Betsy Gaudette-Cross, Michael Cross, Ralph Choknocki, Pauline Church, John Cook, Joe Englebrecht, Zach Green, Larry Lewis, Felix Martin Del Campo, Rhonda Michalk, and Beckie Nava.
The reception will kick off the exhibit during First Friday March 2nd from 5-8pm. Please bring a friend, introduce yourself to the group and feel free to ask questions.
Please come out Friday and see the art of Tulare County in Downtown Visalia!